Chagas is a serious disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which makes its way to the bloodstream and spreads to the organs of the body. This is of particular concern when it affects the heart and brain.
The most common way for chagas to spread to dogs is through unknowing ingestion of feces from so-called “kissing bugs,” which are also referred to as “assassin bugs.”
Though the disease primarily appears in dogs in Central and South America, cases have been reported in several states in the US, including Texas and many others from the southeast to the southwest. Even though chagas disease can affect humans, no cases of transmission from dog to human have been reported.
Chagas disease can be fatal, and there is no real cure for the condition, though some treatment can help manage symptoms and complications. If you see the signs of chagas disease in your dog, consult your veterinarian so they can form a proper diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Here’s what you should know about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for chagas disease in dogs.
Symptoms Of Chagas Disease In Dogs
Symptoms of chagas disease in dogs can either be acute, meaning they appear suddenly and severely, or they can be chronic, meaning they are mild at first and gradually worsen over a longer period of time.
Some dogs have an asymptomatic period, which can last for months to years, where they show no symptoms; although, the parasite may still be doing internal damage to the organs, including degeneration and inflammation of the heart.
Here are some of the symptoms you might see in dogs who suffer from chagas disease:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Exercise intolerance
- Tachycardia
- Arrhythmia
- Anemia
- Edema
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Coughing
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Difficulty walking
- Seizures
- Fainting
- Congestive heart failure
- Sudden death
Causes Of Chagas Disease In Dogs
The most common cause of chagas disease in dogs is unknowingly ingesting the contaminated feces from the kissing bug, a blood sucking insect. However, dogs can suffer exposure in other ways.
Eating an infected kissing bug or any infected animal can cause infection.
Although bites from the kissing bug don’t directly cause infection, kissing bugs may leave fecal matter in the bite wound and infect a dog.
The parasite may also pass from a mother dog to her puppies, either through the umbilical cord before birth or through her milk after birth.
Treatments For Chagas Disease In Dogs
There’s no direct treatment or vaccine for chagas disease in dogs, but treatment is available to relieve some of the symptoms and complications of the disease.
Some drugs have shown limited promise for treating the acute stage of chagas disease, especially Benznidazole, though full suppression of the disease via drugs is not yet possible.
Usually medication is given for the heart and lungs as needed, and animals are often quarantined to avoid passing the parasite to others. That said, there have been no documented cases of dogs passing chagas disease to humans.
The only somewhat effective means of preventing the disease include using insecticides to reduce the kissing bug population, turning off outside lights at night to avoid attracting insects, cleaning up insect feces with bleach, and keeping dogs inside at night.
How do you keep bugs away from your dog? Do you keep an eye out for kissing bugs so they don’t pass chagas to your pets? Then let us know in the comments below!
